MEDIA RELEASE
FPC corrects inaccuricies in anti-forestry media release
14 May 2009
The Forest Products Commission (FPC) today responded to a media release containing a number of incorrect statements, issued on Wednesday, 13 May by an anti forestry group.
On Friday, 8 May FPC announced consultation with a member of the public had led to the identification and protection of 5.5 hectares of previously unmapped old growth.
FPC Manager Native Forests, Chaz Newman said, “We have not yet received a final, formal notification of the findings from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), but we want to be transparent and let the public know what’s happening.”
“We were legally preparing for harvest, but as soon as doubt was raised about the presence of further old growth forest, we stopped operations immediately and we called in DEC to do a full assessment.”
“DEC’s draft report indicates of the total 22 hectares assessed in Diamond 2, 5.5 hectares meets old growth criteria. Adjoining those 5.5 hectares DEC also found an area of approximately 1.4 hectares which had been harvested earlier, which had the potential of being old growth.
“This particular patch is jarrah forest so the timber would have gone to local sawmills and not for woodchip, as has been claimed.
“DEC has told us the final report is expected to be available in the next two weeks.
“All operations in this cell have stopped until the report is finalised and the area has been clearly marked on the ground."
Diamond 205 is predominantly karri forest totalling 199 hectares of which 28 hectares is mapped as old growth.
The Conservation Commission, which is responsible for developing management plans for WA forests, recently reviewed and reclassified approximately 17 hectares in Diamond 2 to non old growth.
This year’s protest activity was not in the in the same harvest cell now assessed as old growth,” Mr Newman said.
“FPC has a strong track record in protecting old growth forest. Logging is permanently prohibited in 1.26 million hectares of reserves and our diligence and willingness for direct community engagement has led to the discovery and protection of at least 230 hectares of previously unmapped old growth karri and jarrah forest,” Mr Newman said.
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